Japan is the birthplace of many outstanding game developers and designers, as well as renowned gaming companies like Sony and Nintendo. Numerous classic games and game consoles originated in Japan, such as globally famous franchises like Pokémon, Super Mario, and Animal Crossing. These creations transcend borders, spreading joy and happiness.
Despite this, for various reasons, many excellent game consoles are only available for sale in Japan. OneMall has selected 7 Japanese exclusive game consoles for gamers to explore together!
Japanese-exclusive PS Vita game console
While the PS Vita may have been discontinued for overseas fans, it remains popular in Japan with consistently good sales and new game releases. The Japanese market offers a variety of limited edition designs and exclusive versions of game consoles that are not commonly imported to other countries.
One of the reasons for its enduring popularity is the lack of region lock on the PS Vita, allowing gamers to freely enjoy games from any country when importing from Japan. OneMall recommends several incredibly cool Japanese exclusive game consoles for gaming enthusiasts to explore further.
1. Limited Edition Minecraft PS Vita game console
For avid Minecraft enthusiasts, don’t miss out on this special edition collaboration game console. In addition to the console itself, it includes a gaming console bag, Minecraft game for PS Vita, and a carrying case. This cost-effective overseas shopping package is a must-have for fans.
2. Limited Edition God Eater 2
The God Eater Limited Edition PS Vita, recognized by OneMall as one of the coolest PS Vita designs, is worth considering even if you haven’t played the game. The stylish design alone deserves recognition! If you are into aesthetics, take a look at this Japanese exclusive game console!
3. PlayStation Vita FINAL FANTASY X/X2
“Final Fantasy X” is one of the most popular games in the series, and this console is tailor-made for any “Final Fantasy” fan. The dreamy blue color, complemented by starry accents, is truly captivating. Don’t just be amazed, take action and get your hands on it now!
4. Pikachu NINTENDO64 Orange & Yellow
Japan is the only country with the best limited edition N64, the light blue and orange Pikachu N64.
In these versions, the surface of the console is a chubby Pikachu, with Pikachu’s feet hiding the power button. The 3D Pikachu is incredibly cute. The cartoon style is very strong, Pokemon fans should not miss out on this!
It is worth noting that the Japanese N64 console can only play Japanese games unless you purchase a special hard drive and even remove some plastic near the system’s tape slot.
5. Sharp Twin Famicom Ontology AN-500B
Most retro gaming enthusiasts are familiar with the Famicom, the original Japanese version of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). However, not many are aware that Nintendo once collaborated with Sharp to develop a niche retro gaming console exclusive to Japan – the Sharp Twin Famicom.
This gaming console features a unique design compared to others, and the Famicom also has many exclusive games that were never brought to the NES. The Twin Famicom’s capabilities are impressive – with a 16-bit main CPU suitable for handheld games and a resolution of 224*144 that makes many games look stunning. Additionally, it comes with colorful interchangeable casings and buttons with excellent tactile feedback.
During the Famicom/NES era in Japan, Nintendo released a disk system attachment for the original Famicom, allowing games to be stored in a yellow floppy disk-like dark box. Interestingly, these disks were rewritable, meaning that after finishing a game, players could visit a Nintendo game booth, purchase a new game, and then write the new game onto the disk, reducing costs for both Nintendo and consumers.
The Twin system comes in various color variants, including two red-black variants and one blue-green-black variant.
6. Wonder Swan & Wonder Swan Color
The WonderSwan is one of the portable gaming consoles developed by Bandai and Koto in Japan. It was released by Bandai in 1999 to compete with devices like the Neo Geo Pocket Color and Nintendo’s Game Boy Color. Gunpei Yokoi, who was involved in the development of the first-generation Game Boy, also participated in the development of the WonderSwan.
On December 16, 1999, the WonderSwan took flight a year after the release of the Game Boy Color, entering into competition with Nintendo and SNK’s Neo Geo Pocket Color. The reasonable layout of the buttons allowed for various gameplay styles, such as traditional horizontal controls for action games and vertical controls for aerial shooting games. This innovative design revolutionized handheld gaming! Unfortunately, the WonderSwan could not rival Nintendo’s Game Boy system and failed to find success in the Japanese market. Nevertheless, the WonderSwan remains a decent gaming console.
Purchasing a WonderSwan is relatively easy; with a quick search, you can still find WonderSwan and WonderSwan Color consoles on various auction websites. Additionally, if you live in Japan, you may even come across these consoles in local bookstores or other second-hand game shops.
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